About the Book
From award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias Buckell comes a fantasy novel told in four parts about a land crippled by the use of magic, and a tyrant who is trying to rebuild an empire—unless the people find a way to resist.
Khaim, The Blue City, is the last remaining city in a crumbled empire that overly relied upon magic until it became toxic. It is run by a tyrant known as The Jolly Mayor and his devious right hand, the last archmage in the world. Together they try to collect all the magic for themselves so they can control the citizens of the city. But when their decadence reaches new heights and begins to destroy the environment, the people stage an uprising to stop them.
In four interrelated parts, The Tangled Lands is an evocative and epic story of resistance and heroic sacrifice in the twisted remains surrounding the last great city of Khaim. Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias Buckell have created a fantasy for our times about a decadent and rotting empire facing environmental collapse from within—and yet hope emerges from unlikely places with women warriors and alchemical solutions.
Praise for “The Tangled Lands”
“A rich and haunting novel that explores a world where magic is forbidden.”
– – The Washington Post
“[Bacigalupi and Buckell] create a damaged world that is frightening in its implications for human suffering. Readers looking for dystopian fantasy with strong female characters will devour the stories of this world and eagerly wait for more.”
– – Shelf Awareness
“Better known for their science fiction, Buckell and Bacigalupi are adept in their use of fantasy motifs. Khaim is textured, a vivid setting only begun to be explored. [These] novellas succeed as action-packed individual stories.”
– – San Francisco Chronicle
“Paolo Bacigalupi and Tobias S. Buckell team up to bring a gripping fantasy to life.”
– – Kirkus Reviews
“All four stories are beautiful, subtle and well worth every moment spent reading them.”
– – BookPage
“I found the book surprisingly hopeful. Resistance in the face of a corrupt government and broken systems can take many forms. Even though the characters live in constant fear, they all find ways to resist, even if it’s just standing up for doing what’s right. In today’s climate of distrust and fake news, it’s both devastating and yet encouraging.”
– – Lightspeed Magazine
“The Tangled Lands is a gripping story of resistance set in the last city of a crumbling empire, run by a tyrant and his henchman.”
– – Powell’s Books
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